I am pretty well versed when it comes to DirecTV, and I have pinpointed a problem with my service. The HD channels become pixelated, but only the HD channels. I have noticed that 2 small trees in the front yard may be obstructing the dish. I am about to trim them back, but my GF LOVES these trees so I don't want to just go hacking away at them.

Here is my question. When I run the signal strength meters, what satellites degrees are designated to HD? I have walked through this test with a DirecTV technician over the phone, but I forgot which ones she said were for HD. Based on my tests thus far, I am assuming they are 99s and 103s, but I just want to make sure.

Thanks in advance.

[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 3:49 PM. Reason : a]

7/1/2010 3:48:03 PM

Yeah, the 99 and the 103 have all the HD channels now. The 101 used to have "legacy" HD channels, but I'm pretty sure those have all switched over by now. Also, the 99s and 103s are the spot beams, those give you your local HD channels. The 99c and 103c are signals for the national HD channels, broadcast to the entire continental US.

With that said, most of the time, if you peak the 101, the rest will follow.

7/1/2010 4:01:48 PM

you're probably just holding your dish the wrong way

7/1/2010 4:21:30 PM

^^ thanks! that is exactly what I was looking for. My local HDs are the main problem, specifically FOX. I am getting 95%+ on all the tests except for those two, where I am getting 0-45%. Looks like I need to trim back a little more.

7/1/2010 4:26:59 PM

No problem. Keep in my mind, a good number of the transponders on the 99s and 103s are supposed to be 0. Go search around on http://www.dbstalk.com forums, there is a sticky somewhere on there with spreadsheets that tell you exactly which transponder is used for each channel.

7/1/2010 4:40:18 PM

Quote :

"you're probably just holding your dish the wrong way"

lolerz

7/1/2010 4:42:39 PM

I think I got it pretty well taken care of. It still pixelates on FOX occasionally, but I still need to get up on the ladder to cut back a couple limbs I couldn't reach from the ground. Hopefully that will take care of it.

As a long term solution, I need to just move the dish from the pole it is on up to the roof. I am on the service plan with DirecTV where we pay an extra $5 a month, but they don't charge for service visits. I wonder if having them relocate the dish would be included in that. I'll have to call them today.

7/2/2010 8:58:23 AM

Haha, you should have called them before cutting down any trees.

7/2/2010 9:23:22 AM

I did. Had them come out and "reposition" it. It was the tech that told me about the obstructions.

7/2/2010 11:29:57 AM